The Abyssinian, Siamese, and American shorthair breeds were combined to create the domestic cat breed known as the ocicat, which has a wild appearance. In spite of how they appear, ocicats are very domesticated, social, and playful.
They grow to be about 15 pounds, which is similar to a large house cat and have a muscular body with a short, low-maintenance coat. Even though they don’t have any wild DNA, their patterns, which include different spots and tabby stripes, give them a wilder appearance than most domestic cats.
Ocicat Overview
| Official Name | Ocicat |
| Common Name | Ocicat |
| Pet Height | 9 To 11 Inches |
| Pet Weight | 6 To 15 Pounds |
| Lifespan | 12 To 18 Years |
| Good With | Cats, Children, Dogs, Families, Seniors |
| Temperament | Affectionate, Sociable |
| Intelligence | High |
| Shedding Amount | Seasonal |
| Playfulness | High |
| Energy Level | Active |
| Vocal Level | When Necessary |
| Coat Length | Short |
| Colors | Chocolate / Brown / Sable, Cinnamon, Fawn, Lavender / Silver, Lilac |
| Patterns | Bi-Color, Tabby |
| Other Traits | Good for first-time pet owners, good lap cat, strong loyalty tendencies, tolerates being picked up, easy to groom, easy to train, friendly toward people, friendly toward other animals, friendly toward strangers |
Appearance
Ocicats are quite easy to identify because of their striking coats. These cats have beautiful thumb-shaped brown or gold markings all over their torsos. The characteristic spots on occicat kittens are usually present at birth, although occasionally they might also have solid colors, pointed coats, or even classic tabby patterns.
Ocicats are available in a dozen different hues, such as tawny, chocolate, cinnamon, blue, lavender, and fawn. Ocicats are athletic, well-muscled cats that come in all different colors. The breed’s males can weigh up to 15 pounds, making them slightly larger than the average house cat. Their skulls are wedge-shaped, and they have broad, oval paws and triangle-shaped, 45-degree-angled ears.
Ocicat Care
The short, dense coat of the ocicat takes little maintenance; a rubber curry comb and chamois cloth will bring out the gloss. Regular nail cutting is recommended (it is preferable to teach a kitten to accept trimming early on), and using a scratching post or cardboard scratcher will also maintain the nails healthy while protecting your upholstery.
All cats, including Ocicats, should live indoors. Giving your cat access to a tall cat tree can encourage safe climbing and provide them access to the outdoor vistas that all cats adore because there are fewer possibilities for exercise indoors. An ociocat’s “wild” energy can also be directed into play with the aid of toys.
The sharp-witted, exuberant ocicat might also appreciate exploring the outdoors in safety, which is something it is capable of doing after being taught to walk with a harness or walking jacket and leash. One of the few breeds, occicats are eager to learn new abilities and tricks, and clicker training is an excellent method for teaching them.
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Common Health Problems
Responsible breeders rigorously inspect their cats for potential health issues, especially those related to certain breeds. Ocicats may be prone to a range of health problems, including:
Liver or renal amyloidosis: a potentially hereditary condition that develops when an insoluble protein called amyloid deposits in organs like the liver or kidneys and results in organ failure
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a common heart condition that thickens the heart’s walls, particularly those of the left ventricle
Periodontal or gum disease: To identify health issues before they worsen, make sure to arrange regular checkups with your veterinarian.
Diet and Nutrition
A food suitable for the species is required to support the health and active lifestyle of an ocicat’s powerful, athletic body. Grain-free and raw meals are frequently favored but speak with your veterinarian about any potential issues with specific plant-based diets that can possibly be deficient in taurine (an amino acid necessary for cats’ healthy vision).
History
On a dare, the ocicat was made. No, the ocicat was accidentally formed in the middle of a dare. According to The International Cat Association (TICA), an American called Virginia Daly was challenged in 1964 to attempt to breed an Abyssinian-pointed Siamese. Daly accepted the challenge and was successful in producing the desired, pointed Siamese offspring by mating an Abyssinian with a Siamese. Daly’s daughter gave the kitten the name “Ocicat” since he looked like a wild ocelot.
However, Daly started mating the Aby-pointed Siamese kittens back to Siamese parents and creating litters that were entirely spotted when subsequent Aby-pointed Siamese litters continued to yield spotted kittens. In 1987, the Cat Fanciers’ Association approved the breed as a championship breed.